Knowing What You Know Today – Would You Still Marry Your Partner?
One of the seeming discoveries from this pandemic has been increased clarity about the state of your primary relationship. The two of you have had to face loss, ambiguity, fear, financial strain, difficult parenting decisions, all while spending much more time together than perhaps ever before....
How To Tell If You’re In Denial As A Parent
What parent doesn’t have some form of regret? It goes along with the territory. Parenting is just plain tough. How often have you looked back at times you fell short? Times that you did, said, ignored, thought, blurted out, even screamed things you wish you could take back? Perhaps you...
Reaching Peace Within Yourself: What I Learned From My Dad About Compromise
“Margaret, life is about compromise.”
That’s what my dad used to tell me from time to time.
Considering the massive amount of wisdom I’d accrued by the age I first heard him say this, probably around 20 or 21, I remember feeling that my father’s early health problems had colored his thinking. I silently shook my head, and believed he was focusing on the negative — on what you gave up in life. I was sure that with enough effort, and maybe a little good luck thrown in, you could achieve exactly what you wanted.
261 SelfWork: Keeping On Keeping On: A Conversation with Author and Widow Leslie Streeter
As a therapist, I’ve been honored by many to try to help them work through their grief. And it can be raw, cutting off someone’s ability to breathe deeply or feel like they’re even breathing at all. Or want to. But when I met met Leslie Streeter, I knew I had to have her on SelfWork. Her story,...
Five Common Misconceptions That Keep Couples From Seeking Therapy
I do a lot of couples therapy and there are nine words that are music to my ears. “We came in before there was a real problem.” This very wise couple hasn’t waited until a crisis has hit; no one is flirting with a coworker, no vicious and repetitive arguments are heard late at...
256 SelfWork: How To Hang On to Being You In A Relationship
Today, in this episode sponsored by BetterHelp, we’re going to focus on what psychologists call “a solid sense of self” – which is a little jargonistic for me. First we’ll touch on the huge difference between codependence and interdependence, with the latter being so...
Facing The Fear of Telling Your Truth and Being Demeaned
Let me take you back in time. I was on a first date with a guy named Jeff. I’d vetted him prior to our date, checked with people that I knew that he knew, etc. By all reports, he was nice, having earned his Ph.D, from the same program that I was currently slugging my way through. The usual...
255 SelfWork: The Trilogy of Trouble – Jealousy, Envy and Possessiveness
We’re going to talk about what I term a “trilogy of trouble” today, or basically how jealousy, envy and possessiveness can sabotage a relationship or commitment. This can happen in personal as well as professional relationships, but we’re mostly focused on personal aspects of the...
Five Things to Learn About Codependence and Interdependence
“We’re so codependent.” This phrase is thrown around a lot these days; sometimes it sounds like people are bragging about how close they are with their partners. Others are lamenting how much time they’ve had to spend home with their significant other during the pandemic....
Three Vital Reasons To Say “I’m Sorry”: A Simple Way to Improve Your Relationship
“Love means you never have to say you’re sorry.” Those words were emblazoned on a poster that hung in my room in my high school years. Ali McGraw and Ryan O-Neal, stars of the hit movie “Love Story,” were blissfully gazing into a future of no conditions or...
Dr. Margaret’s Book Now Available!
I'm thrilled to announce my new podcast has earned almost two million downloads! Join thousands of subscribers and tune into SelfWork. It's available here on the website under the tag "SelfWork" and for subscription on iTunes. We talk about similar things as here, but go even further in-depth. Hope you'll join those who listen weekly!
Click here to contact Dr. Margaret by email. I welcome your comments, personal stories, and questions. I will answer you!
